The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud expressed concern over the recent trend among members of Bar associations to publicly discuss ongoing cases and critique court judgments. Speaking during the centennial celebration of the High Court Bar Association in Nagpur, he emphasized that as legal professionals, they are primarily officers of the court responsible for maintaining the integrity of legal discourse.
Chandrachud highlighted the importance of lawyers in communicating court decisions to the public through various platforms, including opinion articles, media appearances, and public speeches. He remarked, “Once a judgment is delivered, it becomes public property. While our institution is open to both praise and criticism through various forms of commentary, including social media, members of the bar should hold themselves to higher standards of discourse than the general public.”
Quoting Aristotle, the Chief Justice reflected on the inherently political nature of human beings, acknowledging that lawyers, like others, may have political leanings. However, he stressed that their foremost allegiance should be to the court and the Constitution rather than to any political or partisan interests.
He also reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to defending its independence from the executive and legislative branches of government, as well as from any political agendas. Chandrachud concluded by underlining the crucial relationship between the independence of the judiciary and that of the legal profession itself, cautioning against compromising this independence.